Klinsmann Appoints Berti Vogts as U.S. MNT Special Advisor

Coach of Germany’s 1996 European Championship-Winning Team to Aid MNT Staff in World Cup Efforts

MNTMar 30, 2014

CHICAGO (March 30, 2014) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has appointed former World Cup winner Berti Vogts to be a Special Advisor to the U.S. Men’s National Team from now through the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A part of the Germany team that won the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Vogts brings a tremendous track record of success to the National Team. Having coached the squad to the 1996 European Championship – on which Klinsmann was a player – he is the last head coach to lead Germany to a trophy.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Berti join us as an advisor,” said Klinsmann. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, both as a player and a coach, and he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. He was my coach for Germany in the 1990s and we have a great relationship. Through his time as the head coach of Scotland, Nigeria and Azerbaijan, he is obviously very familiar with our opponents in the group stage of the World Cup, and for us this is a huge bonus.”

In his role as Special Advisor, Vogts will aid in the development of training plans, help prepare scouting reports, and travel to observe matches of the USA’s opponents in the lead-up to the tournament and in Brazil.

Along with the announcement of Vogts, Klinsmann has added U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director and Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos to the coaching staff and is transitioning Martin Vasquez to other responsibilities within U.S. Soccer.

“As we move toward the World Cup, we are shifting some responsibilities within the technical staff that we believe will put individuals in areas of strength and provide us with the best opportunity to be successful,” said Klinsmann.

Vogts earned 96 caps for Germany, playing a total of 19 matches spanning three World Cups. Nicknamed “Der Terrier,” he famously marked Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in the 1974 World Cup final that Germany won 2-1 in Munich. He served as team captain from 1977-79, taking over for Franz Beckenbauer.

During a 14-year professional career in which he was twice named Germany Footballer of the Year, Vogts was an integral part of the Borussia Moenchengladbach squad that won five Bundesliga titles (1969-70, 1970-71, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77) and two UEFA Cups (1974-75, 1978-79).

Vogts coached Germany from 1990-98, compiling a record of 66-12-24. In addition to the title in 1996, he had a second-place finish in the 1992 European Championship and led Germany to the quarterfinals in consecutive World Cups in 1994 and 1998.

Having coached the national teams of Scotland (2002-04) and Nigeria (2007-08), he has served as the manager for Azerbaijan since April of 2008 and will continue in that role.